Google sponsored links


idland
 
Damn cross frames are huge!!!

I can confirm what has been said on here before: Redline frames are indeed sized large. I made the mistake of buying a 48cm Redline Conquest Pro frame from Excelsports and, lo and behold, it's too damn big for me! I know, I know, that's the peril of buying a frame without riding it, but I have virtually no access to test ride frames. Even though there are a lot of bike shops here in NYC, they're generally run by a bunch of pricks and they don't have small sizes in stock and aren't willing to order them simply on the hope that you'll buy one. (I actually had a bike shop tell me I was "screwed" in reference to my search.)

So now, in addition to needing to unload a perfectly new (not even ridden--I could tell once the thing was put together that it was too big for me) Redline frame & fork, I'm back to square one in terms of a frame (although I can cross--no pun intended--Redline off my list).

My standover is 78cm. So now I'm looking at the Kona Jake in a 49cm. The standover is 75cm. Does anybody ride a small Kona frame? How do they generally measure up? Just to compare, my road bike (2002 Wilier Alpe D'Huez size small with sloping TT) has a 46cm C-C seat tube. Will the sloping TT on the Jake help me out with standover? Is 3cm enough standover for a cross bike? If you were me would you go even smaller, say a 46cm Soma Double Cross?

Help!


The BikeForums Team
-adv-
This is an archived thread, you can find the full version of this thread, with images, links and more content here.

Ready to buy? Check out these two online bike stores:
- http://www.nashbar.com (you can find the latest bike nashbar coupons in this thread)
- http://www.performancebike.com (you can find the latest performance bike coupons in this thread)

Cya on the forums,
- The BikeForums Team
- http://www.bikeforums.net

BlastRadius
 
Wow. According to Redline's website, the standover for all sizes from 48cm to 60cm is 80cm/31.5". Sheesh.
In addition to the Kona, you should check out the Bianchi Axis 49cm although I'm not sure they sell it as a frameset. I'm 5'5" with 75.5cm standover and the 49cm Axis fits me perfectly.


aluckyfiji
 
You know, I looked at Redline webpage, and there measurements make no sence...
if all bike have a BB height of 28.5cm, the seat post is at 73degrees, that would make a 48cm have a standover of 29.2" (74.4cm) and a 50cm being 30.0"(76.3cm)
just a thought


idland
 
Excelsports claims the 48cm Conquest Pro standover is 76.5cm and the 50cm is 77cm. Incidentally, I called Redline and the guy I spoke with there quite reasonably wouldn't offer a standover height, because it's related to tire size too. I trusted Excelsports' measurements. In another thread somebody wrote that he felt like the 48cm Redline frame felt the same size as 52cm Kona.


idland
 
Wow. According to Redline's website, the standover for all sizes from 48cm to 60cm is 80cm/31.5". Sheesh.
In addition to the Kona, you should check out the Bianchi Axis 49cm although I'm not sure they sell it as a frameset. I'm 5'5" with 75.5cm standover and the 49cm Axis fits me perfectly.

Yeah, I don't think it is offered as a frame set. So you're fine on the 49cm. According to the Bianchi site, the 2004 Axis in 49cm standover is 74.93cm. So you're OK with a 1/2cm of standover???


BlastRadius
 
Yeah, I don't think it is offered as a frame set. So you're fine on the 49cm. According to the Bianchi site, the 2004 Axis in 49cm standover is 74.93cm. So you're OK with a 1/2cm of standover???

Without shoes, my standover is 75.5/76cm, with my cycling shoes on it's 78cm. Since the Axis has a sloping top tube, the standover to the rough center of the top tube is just 75.5cm. 74.93cm may be without the tires :). I'm comfortable with 2-2.5cm of clearance with my shoes on. Anything smaller and the geometry wouldn't fit the rest of my body without extra long stems and seatposts. I don't think extra long stems is a good idea for cross racing.


idland
 
Thanks, BlastRadius.

Does anybody out there ride a small Kona? What's the geometry like? How does it feel to you?


RunningBear
 
I have the 49 Jake. My standover is 79 and my road bike is a 51. I am more or less very happy with it. I did have to go to a riser stem, as I couldn't get the bars high enough to avoid straining my neck. and I do have a little toverlap as well, but it's really only a problem at slow speeds on technical terrain. It's definitely nimble & quick and it fits me fine.


jhernandez
 
Don't give up that frame yet! I've seen many of the pro crossers ride a frame a bit bigger than their usual road frame. Why? When you have to get your shoulder inside the triangle to grab the handlebar and run, it helps having a little extra room! I was hitting my elbow during practices, and got this tip from Paul Curley, a great crosser himself. I have seen that fact re-affirmed on some of the european crossers.
But if you are totally not happy because of the standing height, reply to me and I might just be interested on that frame.
Good luck, and hope you try cross... it's awesome!


Xavier
 
Check out the Interloc Cross frames. They make very small ones with sloping top tubes. I love mine.


Previous - Top - Next